Pros:
Three classic Devil May Cry games in one package
All three games look great in HD
Gameplay is both fun and challenging

Cons:
Camera system still out of whack
Not everything is upgraded in HD
No main menu to change games unless you restart

Since 2001, the Devil May Cry series has been something special on the Playstation 2. The first game hooked me right in with it’s over the top sword and gunplay action. Tossing enemies up into the air with my sword and then blasting them to death with my dual handguns never got old. Some of the lines were a little cheesy at times when Dante was ready to kick some ass, but this series was not about dialog. It was about hacking and slashing with style and it was fun. Lately there have been some changes with a reboot along with a new style and younger looking emo-Dante. With such a radical change on the horizon, this HD collection serves up everything that we loved about the series…except for maybe Devil May Cry 2.

The Devil May Cry HD Collection is a three game set of Dante’s adventures all which were exclusively featured on the Playstation 2. The series’ only rivals at the time was the God of War games also on the PS2 and Ninja Gaiden on the Xbox. Talk about some good company. The main story centered around the main character Dante, the son of Sparda, who had the huge task of eliminating the demons of the underworld with his sword and trademark handguns Ebony and Ivory. Along with his apparent cocky attitude and an ass kicking nature in mind, Dante accomplished just that all in style. Besides all the action, the series also featured plenty of puzzle solving reminiscent of the Resident Evil series. Overall, each game was fun and filled with some memorable moments.

One of the biggest changes with this unique collection is the graphical HD upgrades giving the games a more modern look to them. These upgrades are noticeable in character design, some backgrounds, and in a few of the cutscenes. Of course not everything is in HD. There are some moments where some of the pre-rendered cutscenes and digital presentation looks aged and very dated. This is not a deal breaker in any way because this package is all about the nostalgia so even the standard and somewhat blocky resolutions here and there will not affect the reason why we played the game…it’s fun gameplay.

The stylish combat with swords and guns alike was the staple for the Devil May Cry games. Add on to the fact that you can use magical attacks for that extra “wow” factor and what you have is action/adventure brilliance. So many times have I walked into a room with a ton of enemies or even a boss encounter and thought to myself about how cool it would be to whoop some serious ass and score some cool combos (which you are rated on your performance), except this time I can now score an achievement or two in the process. Sadly, I wished that Capcom would have went back and worked on the camera angles, because they still are a distraction at times when in a tough fight.

As I first started playing this collection (starting with DMC 3, because that game is awesome), I once again found myself immersed in the demon slaying world. Swinging my sword and shooting my guns scoring awesome combos was so much fun once again. This was a series I really missed, and DMC 4 just didn’t do it for me either. I truly enjoyed the originals even though DMC 2 kinda sucked back then. Nowadays, I can come to grips with that sequel and find time to enjoy it even if the main reason I purchased this collection was to play the original and DMC 3.

The nostalgia is what will bring in the fans, but it’s the gameplay that will keep you playing over and over again. It may even bring in a new gamer or two that have never played the series before. Devil May Cry HD Collection offers tons of gameplay for the small price and it’s well worth it. Maybe even those who disliked Devil May Cry 2 will find a way to enjoy the game we all wanted to forget at that time. Overall, Devil May Cry HD Collection is a definite buy for the fans, but is good buy for everyone else as well.